JENNIFER GILLOM JOINS MYSTICS COACHING STAFF

January 17, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Washington Mystics General Manager and Head Coach Trudi Lacey announced that Jennifer Gillom will join her on the bench for the 2012 season. A pioneer in the women’s game, Gillom was elected to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.

“Jennifer is an awesome addition to our staff. She brings experience as well as expertise in player development and her enthusiasm is contagious,” stated Lacey. “She will bring lots of energy and will be instrumental in helping us have a successful season in 2012.”

Gillom spent seven years in the WNBA, playing for the Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks. She helped the Mercury to three post season appearances (1997, 1998 and 2000), with the team advancing to the 1998 WNBA Finals. During her time with the Sparks, the team advanced to the 2003 WNBA Finals. Gillom received numerous accolades throughout her WNBA career including All-WNBA First team (1997) and All-WNBA Second Team (1998) honors. She was named to the 1999 All-Star team and was the recipient of the 2002 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award. Prior to joining the league, she played professionally for various international leagues in countries such as Greece, Spain and Turkey. A graduate of Ole Miss, Gillom was the SEC Player of the Year and was a four-time All-SEC first team selection.

Gillom joined the WNBA coaching ranks in 2008 as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Lynx and was named head coach for the 2009 season. In 2010, she assumed the head coaching responsibilities of the Los Angeles Sparks and led the team to the playoffs in spite of losing All-Star Candace Parker 10 games into the season.

Gillom has competed six times with Team USA, winning five gold medals and a silver medal in international play. She was named the 1985 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year and recently served as an assistant coach with Team USA helping the team remain undefeated and capture gold during the 2010 World Championship.

The WNBA’s Washington Mystics are owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which is one of the largest integrated sports and entertainment companies in the country with one of the most diverse partnership groups in all of sports. The group also owns and operates the NBA’S Washington Wizards, the NHL’s Washington Capitals, Verizon Center – the premier sports and entertainment venue in Washington, D.C. Monumental Sports & Entertainment also oversees the management of Kettler Capitals Iceplex, the state-of-the-art training facility for the Capitals, and George Mason University's Patriot Center.